"The
public art review panel for the Big Joe Burrell statue has commissioned
Chris Sharp to design and execute a life-size,
bronze statue in celebration of Big Joe Burrell's life. It
will be sited on the Church St. Marketplace near Halvorson's Upstreet
Cafe. It is currently slated for installation by Jazz
Festival 2007." Sara
Katz, Burlington City Arts, 2/6/2006

February 8 - "Big"
Joe's birthdate - he would have been 82-years young.

February 9 -
NEWSMAKERS -" A Birthday Bash for Joe - It's been a year
since Burlington lost Big Joe Burrell but he's by no means forgotten.
He'll be remembered during his birthday week at his favorite musical
haunt, Halvorson's Upstreet Cafe on Church Street, with a gig from
8-11pm Thursday by the band that had been known as Big Joe Burrell and
Friends. According to Halvorson's manager, Dan Charland, the band will
be joined by a few other notable Burlington musicians, including DAVE
GRIPPO, PAUL ASBELL, and JOHN RIVERS. Burrell died last February at age
80. He would have celebrated his 82nd birthday this week." -
(C) Burlington Free Press Staff, 2/8/2006

February 9 -
Halvorson's Upstreet Cafe - 8-11pm: Special tribute to "Big" Joe
including 50-foot photo montage depicting 60-years of Joe's life in
full color plus video excerpts from "Big" Joe's Memorial Service held
on May 29, 2005.

February 10 -
Burlington WINTERFEST Blues Carbaret - Boathouse: Jenni Johnson
6:30-9:30pm. Special tribute to "Big" Joe including 50-foot photo
montage depicting 60-years of Joe's life in full color plus video
excerpts from "Big" Joe's Memorial Service held on May 29, 2005.

The struggle to raise funds for this example of Sharp's work has recently
gained some momentum, says Toni Trombley, chair of the 10-person committee
charged with bringing the vision to fruition. Nearly $30,000 is now committed.
Contributors have been coming forward in larger numbers since it was made clear
that this piece of public art is not being 100-percent underwritten by the
public, Trombley notes.

However, the City of Burlington is the source of the single-largest gift -
$5000 - so far given to the Big Joe Burrell Statue Fund. Burlington City Arts
has also donated the time Katz has spent on the project in the year and a half
since it was launched.

Trombley, the partner of Burrell's nephew Leon Burrell, says she's still
hopeful the money will be raised in time to ensure that an unveiling takes place
as planned during next June's Discover Jazz Festival. What's needed now, she
says, is for "a big underwriter or two to step up, whether an individual or a
corporation." ...

A fitting tribute?

"Thanks for the
memories" to "Big" Joe Burrell -- doesn't even come close. Unknown
Blues Band? A refreshing melodic oxymoron if ever there was
one.

Tens of thousands of Vermonters
will remember "Big" Joe Burrell and the Unknown Blues Band in
over 100,000 different ways.

Let's honor legendary
"Big" Joe Burrell, his family and his legacy by naming the Burlington Boathouse after him and
erect a life-size statue. Imagine the huge sign reading: "Big" Joe
Burrell's Boathouse -- just the thought of it makes me smile!

For more years than I
can recall, "Big" Joe and innumerable "Guests" jammed at the Boathouse
almost every Fourth of July while tens of thousands listened and
watched the fireworks. "Big" Joe's fireworks!

I also fondly remember
"Big" Joe at the 2003 Mardi Gras parade in Burlington,
proudly smiling from the center of his float and tossing out inflated
saxophones to the children. "Big" Joe was happy to
do it, eager to please and full of life.

Perhaps, too, either
Barre's Rock
of Ages Corp. (how appropriate) and/or members of the Barre
Granite Association will deem it worthy to create and donate
a full sized statue of "Big" Joe for all Vermonters to reflect upon.
The enormous positive impact "Big" Joe has unselfishly and lovingly
provided Vermont and the world must not be forgotten.

Heaven is all the more
richer with "Big" Joe Burrell in his eternal gig --
God's blues band.

I'm pleased to inform you that on February 15, 2005 the City
Councilors of Burlington voted to enact the suggestions in
the above Letter to the Editor. The boathouse has
been "symbolically"
renamed the "BIG" JOE BURRELL
Burlington Community Boathouse and it is
anticipated that by the 2006 Burlington Discover Jazz Festival (June),
a life-sized statue of "BIG" JOE
will be in place either on Church Street or at the waterfront.

The Burlington
City Arts has issued a "Call to Artists" to produce a public
art project memorializing BIG JOE BURRELL.
Submissions due: July 15, 2005DETAILS are
here.

Vermont's Congressman, Bernie Sanders, calls "BIG" JOE Vermont's
Great Jazz Master in his extended remarks in the US House of
Representatives in Washington DC on March 1, 2005. (Recounting Brent
Hallenbeck's BFP article)

A very special Memorial Service was held for
"BIG" JOE on May 26, 2005 in Burlington.

"...This year's
festival will be dedicated to "Big" Joe Burrell, the legendary
Burlington saxophone player who died Feb. 2 and who played numerous
shows during each festival. Mayor Peter Clavelle said a scholarship
will be created this year in Burrell's memory to help a student
pursuing jazz, and a Burrell sculpture will be finished in time for the
2006 festival. "We are going to miss 'Big' Joe," Clavelle said. ..."
(See - 9
Days, Nights of Jazz)

Governor
Jim Douglas issued a Proclamation
declaring the Opening Day of the 2005 Burlington Discover Jazz Festival
(June 3, 2005) as "BIG JOE BURRELL Day" throughout Vermont and
presented it to Dr. Leon Burrell, "BIG" JOE's nephew on June 2, 2005 in
the ceremonial room of the Vermont Statehouse in Montpelier.

In appreciation of Governor Douglas' recognition of "BIG"
JOE's talent and contribution to Vermont, Dr. Leon Burrell gave Gov.
Douglas an autographed copy of his book which is "Big" Joe's
autobiography, We Call Him "Big" Joe ~ Big Horn, Big Soul,
Big Man: A Musician's Odyssey ~ Memoirs of "Big" Joe Burrell.

The Unknown Blues Band and Guests will be performing numerous
special tributes to "BIG" JOE throughout the coming months; June 23rd
with "Friends of Big Joe" (Halvorson's - Burlington),